Roma-Juventus is never an easy match and yet the end result would have suggested so. The reality is that Ranieri’s men managed to control the game well and even when they saw their advantage being equalized, they reacted well winning an important three points which fuel title hopes.
Even though there are a number of initiatives by both teams the start of the match is rather slow with the two sides seeming reluctant to take any excessive risks. On the 2nd minute Riise shoots from outside the Juve area but the ball goes wide and one minute later Buffon saves with some difficulty after some indecision by the defence.On the 4th minute Grygera puts a ball into the Roma area but there is nobody who can get to it. One minute later Brazzo fishes out Del Piero who in turn heads into the area but the defence anticipates. On the 6th minute there is a corner for Juventus: Giovinco puts the ball into the area but the cross is low and intercepted. Two minutes later it is the hosts who have a corner: ball into the area but Mellberg clears. Rhythm starts to build up and on the 14th minute Iaquinta receives the ball and enters the area well but mistakes the pass to Del Piero and the defence clears. Two minutes later there is a good through ball to Giovinco by Del Piero but the young star does not manage to control the ball well.Chiellini saves the day on the 18th minute, after the defence hesitated, allowing Riise to enter the area. Four minutes later Del Piero puts a ball into the area, it is too high for Iaquinta who merely touches it, the ball reaches Giovinco who hesitates with the defence clearing. On the 23rd minute Roma are awarded a free-kick following a Grygera foul on Menez. Riise takes the free-kick putting the ball into the area but Poulsen clears.
On the 25th minute Giovinco shoots from outside the area but the ball is deviated into a corner. The atomic ant puts the ball into the area, the defence clears partially but the ball reaches Del Piero who shoots with the defence intercepting. On the 26th minute Vucinic tries a lob from outside the area but Buffon cradles it easily.
Seba is beginning to enter the match and on the 28th minute he puts a good ball to Iaquinta who in turn crosses to Salihamidzic but the ball is too long. On the half-hour Doni is forced to leave the post to anticipate Iaquinta. Juventus are gradually starting to take over the control of the midfield and on the 34th minute Giovinco passes to Iaquinta who shoots from outside the area posting the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for the opener: 0-1.The giallorossi try to react and on the 36th minute Menez shoots badly and the ball goes wide from a favorable position. One minute later Giovinco with a beautiful heel passes the ball to Del Piero who is stopped for a foul. On the 39th minute Vucninic anticipates Mellberg and shoots seeing the ball go wide.
On the 41st minute Juventus are awarded a corner after Riise devaited a Brazzo cross. Del Piero puts the ball into the area, Brazzo tries to head but the ball is too high. The sphere finally reaches Giovinco who shoots high. The last action of the first half comes on the 43rd minute Iaquinta puts a tricky ball into the area with Doni who manages to save. The first half ends after 2 minutes of stoppage time with the bianconeri leading by 1-0.The first five minutes of the second half see Roma more motivated then the bianconeri who seem not to have really come back on the field. On the 2nd minute there is a corner for Roma after a ball in the area is deviated by Mellberg. Iaquinta clears. Seconds later the referee awards Roma another corner with Loria deviates the ball sending it to the back of the net for the equaliser.
The goal could have been a demoralizer but instead the bianconeri show their will power and fight back. On the 5th minute Del Piero tries to head the ball in the area but a foul is ordered against him and one minute later the captain tries to shoot from a long distance but the ball goes high. On the 9th minute comes the turning point of the game: a Grygera cross is deviated by Riise, the ball reaches Iaquinta who heads home for the advantage : 1-2. Two minutes later the hosts go close to equalizing a second time: there is a corner orner for Roma: the ball is dangerously heading for the net but Iaquinta intervenes to clear. On the 13th minute Giovinco enters the area and shoots but Doni saves.
A quarter of an hour into the second half, there is a free-kick for Roma after a Giovinco foul on Brighi. The ball is put into the area but Mellberg anticipates Mexes for a corner. One minute later Iaquinta and Del Piero exchange the ball on a very fast counter-attack with the captain who sees his shot being deviated by Riise just off the goal line. On the 16th minute Riise anticipates Iaquinta after a good cross into the area by Molinaro. On the 22nd minute Juve are rewarded for their efforts. There is a corner for Juve: the ball is put into the area, Mellberg rises above all and heads home for the third goal (1-3). Three minutes later Nedved comes on for Tiago and two minutes later Marchionni on for Giovinco. The substitutions seem to yield their fruit since on the 28th minute a cross into the Roma area is cleared by the defence but reaches Nedved who shoots home with a powerful shot from outside the area making the score 1-4.
The bianconeri are now in total control of the match. On the 33rd minute a ball is crossed into the area for Marchionni who dribbles round a defender a first time but does not manage to stop the ball from going over the line. There is glory even for Buffon in the match as the keeper performs a miracle putting the ball into corner after a shot is deviated by Chiellini on the 35th minute. One minute later the ball is put into the Juve area from the corner but Buffon has no difficulty in saving. On the 37th minute Juventus are denied a penalty after the ball is handed in the Roma area by a defender. Four minutes later Buffon is seen in yet another brilliant save on young debutant attacker D'Alessandro.
The match ends in the best of manners with the bianconeri obtaining a very important victory before the break on a difficult field, a victory which will certainly motivate Ranieri’s men in view of the final 9 matches of the title race.
Serie A 2008/09 29th Match Day
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Saturday 21st March, 2009
ROMA – JUVENTUS: 1-4
Scorers: Iaquinta (34th), Loria (47th), Iaquinta (54th), Mellberg (68th), Nedved (74th),
ROMA: Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Loria (Montella 62nd), Riise; Felipe, Brighi; Tonetto, Baptista; Menez (D’Alessandro 82nd), Vucinic (Stojan 91st). Reserves: Arthur, Crescenzi, Malomo, Brosco, Stojan, D’Alessandro, Montella. Coach: Spalletti.
JUVENTUS: Buffon; Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic, Tiago (Nedved 70th), Poulsen, Giovinco (Marchionni 72nd); Iaquinta, Del Piero. Reserves: Chimenti, Zebina, Knezevic, Castiglia, Marchionni, Nedved, Trezeguet. Coach: Ranieri.
REFEREE: Rocchi from Florence.
Yellow Cards: Loria (24th), Tiago (29th), Mexes (40th), Riise (66th), Molinaro (69th), Menez (77th)
